Fatima Riarte only had one cardinal rule. And it's to never fall in love with her friend, Rigo Riorson.
Despite the meaningful glances and the silent pleas of the heart, their relationship never materialized.
Not until that one night.
But when a mis...
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Chapter 20
Fear of Losing
Fatima nuzzled closer to Rigo as they both laid on the soft and velvety couch on the first floor of the rest house. Everyone was already upstairs and retired for the night dahil nagkakapikunan na sa table games na ginagawa nila, and it was mostly Jachin being annoyed that Abe and Mila kept winning against him and Evie.
Naramdaman ni Fatima ang paghaplos ni Rigo sa buhok niyang nakatabing sa gilid ng mukha niya. She was lying on his chest, listening to his heartbeat and steady breathing while also being hyperaware of the fact that this hasn’t happened in a long while. Hindi na sila humihiga sa iisang kama. Hindi na niya hinihintay na makatulog si Rigo para bigyan ito ng halik sa pisngi. Hindi na niya inaabangan bumukas ang mga mata nito sa umaga para batiin ng good morning.
“Inaantok ka na?” Rigo asked softly. Naramdaman ni Fatima ang paggalaw nito para tignan ang mukha niya.
He was about to lift her head to remove his arm underneath her, probably so she could sleep better, but she tightened her arm around his abdomen, pressing herself a little more on his side. Bahagya itong natawa at hinila siya palapit pa lalo hanggang sa maramdaman niya ulit ang init ng katawan nito.
“Hindi ako makatulog,” Fatima murmured after a while. “Iniisip ko pa rin ‘yong kanina.”
“Kanina?”
“Iyong. . . ‘yong ano.” She pressed her head on his chest, suddenly shy. Pakiramdam niya lahat ng dugo niya ay napunta na sa pisngi niya. Hindi maalis sa isipan niya kung anong nangyari kanina, and they even did it despite knowing their friends were just inside the house.
“Ano?” Rigo laughed and rose a little from his lying position to kiss her hair. “Hindi ka naman nahihiya sa ganyan dati ah?”
Fatima smacked his chest. “Fine! Iyong paghahalikan natin sa labas kanina. Kung saan saan pumupunta kamay mo!”
Rigo broke into a fit of laughter, his sides shaking in delight. He wrapped his other arm around Fatima, fully embracing her body, before he sighed. “Sorry, nakakamiss, e.”
“You love kissing me?”
Tumango ito. “Pero sorry din kasi baka naipit ko si budiday. Was I rough?” And then he gently moved his hand towards her belly before pausing just an inch from touching her skin. “Can I touch?”
Fatima felt her breath catch at the question. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to it, but eventually, she reached for his hand that was still hanging in the air, and guided it towards the part of her belly where her baby girl was mostly leaning on. She could already feel her body moving inside her and oftentimes, she’d feel her strong kick too. Gusto na yatang lumabas.
“Iwan mo lang kamay mo, mamaya mararamdaman mo na siya.”
Rigo kept his hand on her belly, giving it a gentle stroke, and waited until he could feel strong kicks. Napasinghap si Rigo at mas lalo hinawakan ang tiyan niya, and Fatima felt comfortable enough to let him. Madalas kasi ay ayaw niyang titigan nang matagal ang tiyan niya dahil mas lalong lumaki na ito, and the changes in her body felt more obvious now than ever. She was heavy, her skin was often irritated, and her belly often gets in the way of moving and bending down to put her shoes.
